Masters of magic and illusion to appear in Stamford

Published 4:14 pm, Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Farrell Dillon is among the performers set to amaze during the Masters of Illusion Live! show on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014, at the Palace Theatre in Stamford, Conn. The show features grand illusions, comedy, magic and the premiere of the Flying Piano. For information on tickets, visit www.scalive.org.
Photo: Contributed Photo

Farrell Dillon is among the performers set to amaze during the...

Farrell Dillon is among the performers in the Masters of Illusion Live! show, which comes to Stamford, Conn., on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014, at the Palace Theatre. Dillon, who is a magician, also offers up plenty of comedy in his routine. For information on tickets, visit www.scalive.org.
Photo: Contributed Photo

When asked to name one of his signature tricks, Farrell Dillon was quick with his response.

"I do a straight-jacket escape while surfing," he said. Given that such a feat is accomplished indoors, on stage, it begged for more details. "You'll have to come to the show to see," he said, during a recent telephone interview.

Dillon, who is a magician, will join other prestidigitators, dancers, illusionists and escape artists -- about 20 in all -- who make up the touring company of "Masters of Illusion Live!" that will be at the Palace Theatre in Stamford on Thursday, Feb. 6.

Dillon has toured with the show for the past four seasons, having started out as a cast member on the television show that inspired the traveling revue. One can expect to see feats from across the spectrum of magic, from escape acts to sleights of hand and a little of everything else.

"There really is something for everybody," Dillon said, noting that the show typically draws multiple generations.

Dillon, who grew up in California and now lives in Boise, Idaho, said it was a gift from his mother -- a magic kit -- that got him started in the craft.

"It was something that I fell in love with," he said. After high school, he continued his studies at the Chavez Studio of Magic, a respected training academy that boasts a faculty of the world's master magicians, graduating with honors.

"I was able to study with teachers who had been magicians for 50 to 60 years," he said.

Taking that knowledge, Dillon refined his own act, which he said combines two different art forms -- stand-up comedy and magic.

"My job is really to make that connection with the audience," he said, adding that it requires a fine balance between technique and showmanship.

Although it is Dillon's job to make others marvel, he has been amazed by what he has been able to experience as part of the cast of "Masters of Illusion Live!"

"It's different everywhere we go," he said, noting that sometimes the cast and crew will spend several days in one place. Sometimes, it's only a matter of hours.

"I have had the opportunity to perform in venues that I would not normally be able to perform in," he said, adding that he also has had a chance to continue his education by spending time with the older magicians in the cast. "It's been wonderful to learn from them."

Still, Dillon has carved out his own niche, as he is considered to be one of America's top comedy magicians. In 2012, he was nominated for stage magician of the year by the Magic Castle in Hollywood, which is the home base for the Academy of Magical Arts.

For those who saw "Masters of Illusion Live!" when it passed through the area in 2012, Dillon said be prepared to be amazed anew.